Cutter tools and tool-boxes therefor



July 11, 1967 -.s E. PROCTOR CUTTER TOOLS AND TOOL-BOXES THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1964 Attorneys July 11 1967 s. E. PROCTOR CUTTER TOOLS AND TOOL-BOXES THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 29, 1964 Invenlor w e n r .w P 0 A f 1 L m p M E v. Y B v VI 0. n 4m 5 JM MM July 11, 1967 s. E. PROCTOR 3,330,601

CUTTER TOOLS AND TOOL-BOXES THEREFOR Filed June 29, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I nvenlor S idney E. pruc y 1967 s. E. PROCTOR 3,330,601

CUTTER TOOLS AND TOOL-BOXES THEREFOR Filed June 29, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F 5 55M 55 Z7 46 4e 35 46 46 47 47 46 I nuenlor Sidney pro tor y jaw, -1 Attorneys July 11, 1967 s. E. PROCTOR CUTTER TOOLS AND TOOL-BOXES THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1964 (affs' J3 35' Inventor SiJhey E. pron 1'0! JIM Allorneys United States Patent 12 Claims. (Cl. 299-92) The invention relates to improvements in cutter tools and in tool-boxes therefor.

According to the present invention, a cutter tool has a shank presenting two opposed side faces, and a resilient latch projecting from at least one of said side faces.

The invention further comprises, in combination, a tool-box intended to be carried by a chain and having an open-topped opening, a wall of said opening being formed with an open-topped slot formed to present a cam surface, a cutter tool having a shank inserted into the opening in each box, said shank presenting two opposed side faces, and a resilient latch so projecting from at least one side face of said shank in relation to said cam surface as to make insertion of said shank into said opening easier than withdrawal.

Five embodiments of the invention are described by way of example only in respect of a coal cutter pick with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a Side elevation of a pick of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a tool-box with the inserted;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

' FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a part of the pick;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a modification of the toolbox illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the modified tool-box;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a pick of the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of a tool-box with the pick inserted;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a pick of the third embodiment; 7

FIG. 11 is an end elevation;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the latch in FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the latch of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the latch of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an end view of the latch of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a pick of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the pick;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a tool-box for the pick pick . of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of a pick of the fifth em- I bodiment inserted into a tool-box;

FIG. 20 is a section on the line 2020 of FIG. 19

. but showing the pick partly inserted;

FIG. 21 corresponds to FIG. 20 but shows the pick more fully inserted; and

FIG. 22 corresponds to FIG. 20 but shows the pick fully inserted.

"ice

Apart from the embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17, the shank 32 of each pick 33 is bored through from side to side and centrally of the width from front to rear of the shank with an opening 34 serving as a bore in which is accommodated resilient latch 35.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 a cross-pin 36, which may be circular or square, constitutes the latch and is inserted into an elastically-deformable bush 37, of rubber, skew to the longitudinal axis of the bush 37 and projecting at both ends thereform. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the opposed walls of the opening 31 in the associated tool-box 30 associated with the sides of the shank 32 of the pick 33 are formed with registering open-topped slots 38. Each slot 38 tapers vertically downwards to emerge into an enlarged recess 39 the centre of which is central of the width of the associated wall. The tapered sides of each slot 38 serve as cam surfaces.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the opposed walls of the opening 31 in the associated tool-box 30 associated with the sides of the shank of the pick are formed with opentopped bayonet slots 40. It will be noted from FIG. 5 that the foot of the slot is tilted at an angle of approximately 5 to the plane of the top of the box 30 and that the slots are together skew to the medial transverse axis of the block 30.

The top of one side of the entrance to each slot 40 is chamfered at 41 to present a cam surface.

In order to insert a pick into a tool-box of FIGS. 2 and 3 or 5 and 6 the shank 32 is inserted into the opening 31 in the box with the projecting ends of the cross-pin 36 entered into the slots 38 or 40.

Downward pressure on the pick is sufiicient to cause the cam surfaces of the slots to guide the pin down the slots to enter the recesses. During downward movement of the pin in the slots, the bush 37 will be compressed and the pin 36 will twist in the bush 37. As soon as the pin 36 enters the recesses 39 or the bases of the slots 40, the resilience of the bush will immediately cause the pin to assume its original position skew to the longitudinal axis of the bush so that the pin is wholly out of register with the entrances to the slots and the pick is locked in the box against removal therefrom without a tool. The combination of the pin and the slots is such as to permit insertion of the pick to face in either of two directions relative to the box.

An advantage of having the pin skew to the longitudinal axis of the bush is that a relatively large amount of rubber is available to absorb the movement of the pm.

If desired, the bore 34 for the bush 37 is formed with a small recess into which part of the bush enters as a tongue to prevent rotation of the bush in the bore.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 a crosspin 42, which may be circular or square, constitutes the latch and is inserted into an elastically-deformable bush 43, of rubber, co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the bush 43 and projecting at both ends therefrom. The opposed walls of the opening 31 in the associated pick-box 30 associated with the sides of the shank 32 are formed with registering open-topped slots 44. Each slot 44 is an angled V-shaped slot with its apex 45, as viewed in elevation, directed substantially parallel to the length of the chain, the apices of both slots being'directed in the same direction relative to the chain. The bottom of each slot is midway of the width of the associated wall. The sides of each slot serve as cam surfaces.

In order to insert a pick into the pick box 30, the shank 32 is inserted into the opening 31 in the box with the projecting ends of the cross-pin 42 entered into the slots 44. Downward pressure on the pick is sutficient to cause the cam surfaces of the slots to guide the pin downwards and sideways in one direction towards the apices 35 of the slots and around the apices to move sideways in the opposite direction until the pin nestles in the bottom of the slots below the apices. When the pin 42 is guided initially down the slots 44 the bush 43 is compressed, so that, when the pin is entered fully into the slots the bush is restored to its normal state and, in conjunction with the apices of the slots, prevents withdrawal of the pick from the box without the exertion of considerable force. The combination of the pin and the slots is such as to permit insertion of the pick to face in either of two directions relative to the box.

For the purpose of withdrawing the pick, a shoulder of the opening in the box is cut away at 46 to receive a heel of a claw-like extractor lever which is insertable under the pin to pull the pin out of the slots.

Referring to the construction illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 15, the latch 35 is in the form of a holder with a cross-pin 46 projecting from both ends of the opening and having an axis skew to the longitudinal axis of the shank.

The holder comprises two hollow cylindrical members 47 so spaced apart by a web 48 that the axes of said members 47 are parallel.

The cross-pin 46 is in two parts each consisting of a hollow cylindrical member of spring metal, said parts being co-axial and projecting in opposite directions from the web 48 with their axis skew to a plane containing the axes of the cylindrical members 47. The walls of each cylindrical member 47 and of the cross-pin 46 are each formed with a longitudinal slit to impart additional resilience to the holder and to the cross-pin.

The bore 34 in the shank 32 of the pick 33 is formed with two diametrically opposed recesses 49 which accommodate the cylindrical members 47 to prevent tuming of the holder in the opening during insertion and withdrawal of the pick into and from a box.

The opposed Walls of the opening in the associated tool-box (not illustrated) associated with the sides of the shank of the pick are formed with registering open-topped slots similar to those formed in the boxes of FIGS. 2 and 3 or and 6.

In order to insert a pick into a tool-box, the shank 32 is inserted into the opening in the box with the projecting ends of the cross pin 46 entered into the slots. Downward pressure on the pick is sufiicient to cause the cam surfaces of the slots to guide the pin down the slots to enter the recesses. During downward movement of the pin in the slots, the resilience of the holder and of the pin permits the pin to twist in the opening. As soon as the pin enters the recesses, the resilience of the holder will immediately cause the in to assume its original position skew to the longitudinal axis of the shank so that the pin is wholly out of register with the entrances to the slots and the pick is locked in the box against removal therefrom without a tool. The combination of the pin and the slots is such as to permit insertion of the pick to face in either of two directions relative to the box.

For the purpose of withdrawing the pick, a shoulder of the opening in the box is cut-away as in FIG. 9 to receive a heel of a claw-like extractor lever which is insertable under the pin to pull the pin out of the slots.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18, the head of the shank 32 of the cutter pick 33 is formed with a heel 50 and a toe 51 which abut the tool-box 30 when the shank is inserted in the opening 31.

A resilient latch 52 of spring metal in the form of a wire or a rod projects from one side face of the pick 33 skew to the longitudinal axis of said pick and at an acute angle to said face such that the latch 52 projects in the direction slightly sideways and rearwardly of the pick. The latch 52 projects from said face substantially level with the heel 50. The wall of the opening 31 in the toolbox 30 on which the heel 50 is intended to abut, is formed with bayonet slot 53 If desired, a similar bayonet slot (not shown) may also be formed in the opposed wall. The slot 53 is formed in said wall nearer one end of said 4 wall than the other to cause the latch 52 when first entered into the slot to be forced away from the associated face of the pick.

The length of the latch is such that the free end portion projects slightly from the associated wall of the box, when the pick is mounted in the box. The head of the cutter pick is formed centrally and above the latch with a bore 54 extending from one face of the head to the other.

In order to engage the cutter pick 33 in locking relationship with the box 30 the shank 32 is entered into the opening 31 in the box until the heel 50 abuts the top of the wall formed with the bayonet slot 53 with the latch 52 entering into said slot. When the latch is first entered into the entrance to the bayonet slot, the position of the slot in the wall is such that the latch is forced away from the associated face of the pick. Continued downward pressure on the pick causes the latch eventually to spring back to its usual position relative to the pick and in locking engagement with the slot proper.

To extra-ct the pick, a wrench is engaged with the part of the latch projecting from the box and with the bore 54 in the pick. The wrench is then pivoted in said bore to disengage the latch from the bayonet slot and to permit extraction of the pick from the opening.

An advantage of this construction is that no special tools are required to lock the pick in the pick box, but it is difficult on the other hand to extract the pick from the box without the use of a wrench or other special tool.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 22, a cross-pin 55 constitutes the latch and is inserted into an elastically-deformable bush 56, of rubber, with the pin normally sloping (as shown in FIG. 20) downwardly from one side face of the pick 33 to the other, the bore 34 also sloping in the same direction. The tool-box 30 is similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 in that it is formed in opposed side walls with open-topped bayonet slots 57 each having a cam surface 58-.

In order to insert the pick into the tool-box 30 the shank 32 is inserted into the opening 31 in the box with the pin 55 entered into the slots 57 with the lower end of the pin first riding on the cam surface 58 of its associated slot 57 to engage the bottom of said slot while the upper end of the pin rests initially on its cam surface (FIG. 20). Downward pressure on the pick causes the pin eventually to take up a horizontal position (FIG. 22) locked firmly in the slots 57, the bush 56 being then so compressed that it normally tends to pull the pin downwardly into locking engagement with the slots and the pick can be extracted only by use of a special tool.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tool-box having a wall defining a socket, at least one open-topped slot in said Wall and a detent in the slot, a tool comprising a shank engageable in said socket and a cutting head having a heel engageable with said tool-box to transmit thereto cutting forces on the tool, and a resilient latch carried by the tool and projecting from the shank in a direction transverse to the axis of the shank, which latch is resiliently displaceable in directions transverse to the direction in which it projects from the shank, the latch and the slot being so shaped and arranged that the tool may be pushed into the socket and that when this is done the latch is resiliently displaced sideways until it reaches the detent in the side of the slot but that on further movement the latch is free to move towards a rest position so that when the tool is fully inserted with its heel abutting against the tool-box the latch resiliently locks the pick in its fullyinserted position, and sideways movement of the latch is required to release the tool for removal from the box.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which said latch has a part projecting from said slot, to which part an external force can be applied to move the latch sideways from its locking position.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which said slot is a substantially L-shaped bayonet slot having a foot portion slightly sloped away from the top of the box.

4. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the box has two opposed slots.

5. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which said latch projects from the shank in a direction skewed from the perpendicular to the direction of cutting motion of the tool.

6. The combination claimed in claim 5 in which said shank is formed with a bore extending from one side face to the other and said latch comprises an elastically deformable bush mounted in said bore and a cross-pin located in said bush and projecting from the shank skew to the longitudinal axis of the bush.

7. A tool-box for holding a shanked cutter tool, formed with an open-topped substantially rectangular opening for reception of the shank of a cutter tool, at least one side wall of said opening being formed with an opentopped substantially L-shaped bayonet slot for reception of a latch on said tool, the entrance to said slot being formed with a cam surface and the foot of the slot being slightly sloped away from the top of the box.

8; A tool-box according to claim 7 having two opposed slots disposed skew to the sides of the box.

9. A cutter tool having a shank presenting two opposed side faces, and a resilient latch carried by the shank and projecting from at least one side face thereof in a direction skewed from the perpendicular to the direction of cutting movement of the tool, said latch being resiliently displaceable in directions transverse to its own axis.

10. A cutter tool according to claim 9 wherein said latch is made of spring metal.

11. A cutter tool according to claim 9 wherein said shank is formed with a bore extending from one side face to the other and said latch comprises an elestically deformable bush mounted in said bore and .a cross-pin located in said bush and projecting from the shank skew to the longitudinal axis of the bush.

12. A cutter tool according to claim 11 wherein the cross-pin projects from both side faces of the shank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,380 2/1916 Arthur 287103 X 2,684,839 7/1954 Rice 29937 X 2,820,655 1/1958 Hileman 287-l03 X 2,852,874 10/1958 Grubb 37-142 2,859,651 11/1958 Horovitz 29992 X 2,965,365 12/1960 Krekeler 29992 3,021,124 2/ 1962 Bowen 29992 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner. 

9. A CUTTER TOOL HAVING A SHANK PRESENTING TWO OPPOSED SIDE FACES, AND A RESILIENT LATCH CARRIED BY THE SHANK AND PROJECTING FROM AT LEAST ONE SIDE FACE THEREOF IN A DIRECTION SKEWED FROM THE PERPENDICUALAR TO THE DIRECTION OF CUTTING MOVEMENT OF THE TOOL, SAID LATCH BEING RESILIENTLY DISPLACEABLE IN DIRECTIONS TRANSVERSE TO ITS OWN AXIS. 